As you probably know, there are a number of different button configurations for the Xbox 360 controller which you can use in Halo 3. While leaving your settings on default when playing grifball may be just fine for you, most experienced grifball players will argue that you should definitely consider trying an alternate layout. Why? With the right configuration and a little practice getting used to it, you may actually find an increase in your performance level on the court.
Though there are several button configurations from which you can choose, we’re only going to cover the few that most grifball players tend to use.
Default Button Layout
Default has been the standard button layout since the days of Halo: CE and is still widely used to this day. Over the course of time, default has often become locked into the subconscious of the player, giving them the advantage of familiarity. However, a disadvantage of default comes when a jump, reload, melee, or weapon swap is needed. Doing so requires you to take your thumb off of the right thumbstick, leaving you partially immobile. Many good players, however, overcome this “disability” due to more intelligent positioning or adaptation.
Boxer Button Layout
Right-trigger controls the normal swing, Left-trigger controls the melee attack. This allows for better jump control and less time off the stick. If you’re a tank, you may find it convenient that your right bumper is used for picking up the ball. This basically allows you to play with one finger on the right trigger (for swinging your hammer) and one on the right bumper allowing you pick up the ball very quickly when you kill the ball carrier. Boxer can also work very well for trick runners since they aren’t required to remove their thumb from the right thumbstick when performing a stiffarm.
Bumper-Jumper Button Layout
Bumper Jumper was introduced with the release of Halo 3 and has gained popularity with the competitive crowd. Bumper Jumper caters to the Xbox 360 controller by making use of the left and right bumper buttons (left for jump, right for melee). Melee and Right Weapon are at easy access, but Reload/Action is swapped for jump. This makes it slightly awkward to pick up the ball but allows you full use of the jump and melee commands. If you’re a runner, that could be very handy.
One last thing to consider
Now that you’ve settled on a button configuration, the next thing you should consider is your controller sensitivity. Based on a scale of 1-10, sensitivity affects how quickly you can look and turn around. There’s no real answer as to what is the best setting to use. It depends on the player and what they’re most comfortable with. Some of the more experiences players, Puppy and Penguin for example, prefer 10 (insane). They both rely quite a lot on their radar, and using such a high sensitivity increases their chances of pulling off some rather ridiculous “radar kills”.
It’s certainly not recommended that you simply bump up to the highest sensitivity setting. We’d recommend starting in the middle at 5 and work your way up or down depending on your preference and what you can handle.
Contributors to this article: HighlndHellrazr, Puptastrophe and Penuinocalypse
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sensitivity is kinda 2 do with speed but more to do with how hard you pull the sticks, if u have a light touch, higher senitivity and the other way around.
And would you not agree that with a higher sensitivity you can spin around faster than with a lower setting? ;)
I think it dosen’t effect play tho, i wouldn’t say this guys better than that guy cus he has a higher sensitivity
If you can control a higher sensitivity, you can be more reactive on the court and therefore make a bigger impact by getting kills and staying alive where other players wouldn’t. So yes, I’d say you can be a better player because you have a higher sensitivity.
Agreed Menz. For quite a while I played with the default sensitivity. Once I decided to make the jump to 10 (and the boxer layout), I began to see a considerable increase in my production. There are plays I make now that I simply just could not have done with default settings.
that i don’t agree with as i’ve had many diffrent sensitivety setting i’ve had 5, 10, 3, 4 and now 2. I’m doin much better on 2 then i’m ever did on 10
UK League IMO
:P;)
I LOLed ;D
Eh, I really don’t see how Default makes reloads awkward since it’s the right bumper, just like Boxer…
I use Boxer but I feel like I am the only person using the default 3
Praetorian got owned then…
But i cant see myself using anything higher than 5 sensitivity as my hands shake to much naturally thus i have a habit of losing control and choking on vital sword swings at higher sensitivities…
So i use 3 but i must try out boxer… since i switch from Bumper Jumper (MLG,Slayer) to Default (Grifball)
I’ve played on 10 sensitivity bumper jumper since like my first day in the league, since the reticles are so large as it is I thought all of the grifpros did it, and I just wanted to fit in and be cool.
Honestly, any player can get used to any sensitivity, and I go mad clutch with 10, its also easier for backwards flowers and launches and stuff
Personally, 10 and bumper have been my favorite controller set ups the moment I learned to use the radar to the best of my advantage as well as the control set up.
Playing on default makes it too awkward for runners imo, you’ll have to claw the controls if you ever want to do anything…
What about Green Thumb?
That’s what I use because you can punch with the right Thumb like in call of Duty (the knife).
I tried green Thumb, but kept having problems using the melee without changing my direction… I keep pushing a little bit forward when I depress the stick.
I switched to Boxer and also found productivity increase (as a tank). It also helps with arthritis, as my left had is now more balanced with my index finger on LT. Before, it felt like my right hand was doing 95% of the work.
I also use a sensitivity of 8 (I’m too chicken to try 10) for the same reason: arthritis. I can tap or move the stick lightly to make a hard, sharp turn for those radar kills without feeling geriatric after the first few rounds.